So you want to be a fisherman? Fishing is a mini-game that allows you to catch fish, which can be used with the cooking secondary skill. You can also catch fish that cannot be eaten but are instead useful for other Professions. You can even catch equipment, funny items, and valuable gems such as pearls. Fishing isn't for everyone. You'll discover that it requires a lot of patience and time to build your skill level up to the maximum level. While you're fishing you won't be gaining experience, so this development can put your leveling behind, unlike some other Professions. Fishing is great for people who just want to relax and chat while playing. For those who enjoy a calm, relaxing way to play the game while finding useful items, fishing is the cat's meow. Here are some tips from a master catcher of fish:
It's good to combine cooking and Rogue lockpicking or engineering with fishing. You can cook the fish you find and sell them to other players. Rogue lockpicking will allow you to unlock any locked chests you find, or with engineering you can create a bomb to blow open the chests, and you can charge other players to unlock their chests (or work for tips).

Getting Started

First, you need to find a fishing trainer. Fishing trainers are usually located next to a lake or stream. If you see an NPC standing near the water, he's likely a fishing trainer or merchant. Ask around and people can help lead you to the fishing trainer. Once you have learned fishing, you need to go find yourself a fishing pole!

Fishing Poles

After you have trained in fishing, you need to go buy a fishing pole. Fishing poles can be purchased from merchants who sell items required for Professions ("trade merchants"). Ask other people where to find one, if you need help.

Bait

Find a merchant who sells bait. Typically, this vendor will be a "trade merchant". You can then use this bait to raise your fishing skill so that you have an easier time catching fish. Bait wears off after a period of time, so you must continue to reapply it. You can buy better bait for higher bonuses to fishing.

Using the Fishing Pole

You will now need to equip the fishing pole. Place it in your main weapon hand. If you have both a main weapon and a secondary shield, you will need to remove both before equipping the fishing pole.
Equip your fishing pole and open up your abilities menu. You will now find a new icon for fishing (or its associated hot key). Drag it over to your action bar.

Now find somewhere to fish. Find the nearest river or lake, or go to the ocean. Face the water and press the fishing button. Your character will make a cast out into the water. If you are unable to fish, you will be informed via an error message with the specific error. Try fishing in another area. If there is not enough room to cast, such as with a narrow river, you might receive an error. Try repositioning.

The Fishing Bobber Game

Once you have made your cast, a fishing bobber will appear. Move your mouse over the fishing bobber, which should reveal the standard loot/interaction icon.
You must now wait until the fishing bobber moves and you see a splash. Fishing requires patience. It's not for everybody. A timer will appear and begin counting down after you cast. The timer indicates the length of your current cast. After the timer is up, you'll have to cast again. Right-click on the bobber as soon as possible after the bobber moves. The game portion involves timing it right so that your right-click will result in the fish being caught and not getting away.

If you are successful, you will receive a loot box and you'll be able to catch the fish. If you are not successful a message will inform you that the fish got away.

The splash/hook may occur at different times along the timing bar. Sometimes the splash/hook appears right before the time is up, requiring you to click quickly before the fishing operation is canceled. As you fish more, you will likely become better at clicking at the right time.

Sometimes the bobber doesn't bob at all during the fishing period. Just cast again.

Fishing Areas

The area (region) you're in is listed in the top right corner of your screen and will determine what fish are available to be caught. The first place you should fish is near the starting area for your race. If you try to start off in a more difficult fishing area, it will take much longer to catch fish and to begin building up your fishing skill level. You cannot determine the difficulty-level of the fishing area except through experience, the type of fish you catch, and how often you fail to catch a fish. If you fail a lot, then you're probably in the wrong area. You should try fishing in an easier area. Experiment with different fishing areas. You should figure it out. The level on the items you catch should also let you know how difficult the area is.
Fish and Fishing Items

Raw Edible Fish - Most fish that you catch can be used as food. Right-click on a fish to eat it.
Cooked Fish - Take raw fish to a cook and have them cooked. Cooked fish will heal a player more than raw fish.
Special Fish - Some special fish, such as a 22-pound catfish, can be held in your off-hand. Place them there to brag about your catch to other people. You may find other non-edible fish that are useful for Professions. Find out what they are for before selling them to a vendor.
Clams - Right-click on a clam to open it up. You will either find clam meat, which can be used in cooking recipes, or pearls! Iridescent pearls are very valuable and can be used in blacksmithing, tailoring, and engineering recipes.

Gems - Very rarely will you find gems, such as a lesser moonstone. This item can be used for other Professions.

Weapons and Armor - You may sometimes fish up weapons and armor. Usually these items (gray items) are only good for selling to the vendor for additional cash. You may, however, find some very rare and valuable equipment if you are lucky!
Humorous Items - You may fish up skulls and other items that just exist for flavor. You can sell them to the vendor or brag about your catch with your friends.
Locked Chests - You may fish up locked chests. There may be money and valuable items inside. You will need to have the chest opened by someone with the lockpicking ability. It's often good to combine with fishing so that you can open up your own chests.
Lost Trade Goods - You may find special boxes that contain items for engineering. Save the contents and sell them to an engineer.
More to Come

New Fishing Pole

You can find better fishing poles that give higher bonuses to your fishing skill. Try to buy some from other players.

Additional Information

There is a fishing contest.
You can sell cooked fish to other players. It's better than store-bought food.
You can find cooking recipes for fish from certain merchants.
Messages in a bottle now have a chance of having a recipe in them.
Some of the fishing zones are going to be pretty hard to fish in and will require bait and a good fishing pole.
Some fish can only be caught at certain times of the day!
Fishing requires a minimum character level, like the other professions do. You will need level 40 and 225 skill to unlock the Artisan fishing quest.
The minimum level for Artisan Fishing is 35.

Common Fishing Questions

What does fishing skill do?
Fishing skill determines your chance of being successful at catching a fish. It does not determine what type of fish you find; nor does it allow you to unlock special items besides allowing you to fish in more difficult areas. If you are able to catch fish most of the time or all of the time then your fishing skill is high enough.
Does it matter where I fish? Should I move around?
The region (zone) determines what fish and loot you will be able to find. Besides that difference, it doesn't matter where you fish. If you try fishing on the shore in a certain area and move up the beach within the same region, it will be the same. Moving does not affect your chances.